αἴρω
airō
to take up
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word αἴρω (airō) is a verb that means "to take up." It is used 103 times in the Bible, indicating its significance in various contexts. The meaning of "to take up" encompasses both physical and figurative actions, such as lifting, grasping, or accepting something. The range of usage for αἴρω is broad, covering various situations. It can describe taking up a physical object, like lifting a burden (Matthew 11:30), or a figurative one, like taking up a task or responsibility (Luke 9:3). The word can also convey a sense of acceptance or agreement, as in taking up an offer or a challenge (Matthew 4:8). The significance of αἴρω lies in its implications of action, commitment, and engagement. Whether physical or figurative, taking up something requires effort, dedication, and a willingness to accept the consequences. This verb highlights the importance of responsibility, initiative, and perseverance in various aspects of life.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
103 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Matthew 4:6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
Matthew 9:6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins-” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”
Matthew 9:16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.
Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 13:12For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.
Matthew 14:20They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.
Matthew 15:37They all ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.
Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 17:27But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”
Matthew 20:14Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.
Matthew 21:21Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done.
Matthew 21:43“Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.
Matthew 22:13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’
Matthew 24:17Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house.
Matthew 24:18Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.
Matthew 24:39and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 25:28Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
Matthew 25:29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.
Matthew 27:32As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.
Mark 2:3Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.
Mark 2:9Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’
Mark 2:11“I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.”
Mark 2:12He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Mark 2:21No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.
Mark 4:15The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
Mark 4:25For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”
Mark 6:8He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse,
Mark 6:29When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6:43They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish.
Mark 8:8They ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over.
Mark 8:19When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Twelve.”
Mark 8:20“When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.”
Mark 8:34He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 10:21Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.”
Mark 11:23For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says.
Mark 13:15and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.
Mark 13:16Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
Mark 15:21They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
Mark 15:24Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take.
Mark 16:18they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Luke 4:11and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
Luke 5:24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, take up your cot, and go to your house.”
Luke 5:25Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God.
Luke 6:29To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also.
Luke 6:30Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.
Luke 8:12Those along the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.
Luke 8:18Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”
Luke 9:3He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—no staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money. Don’t have two coats each.
Luke 9:17They ate and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.